Eighteen months ago I started using the duragesic fentanyl patch for control of chronic pain. The patch is a very strong narcotic pain reliever. After using the patch for several months my wife began to notice that I was having spells of not breathing while I slept. As time went on the periods of no breathing became longer and more frequent. I was having problems staying awake during the day. During a Doctor visit I mentioned the problems I was having and was scheduled for a sleep study. I was diagnosed with severe Central Sleep Apnea, having over 55 centrals an hour even while on the machine. After further complications I visited another sleep doctor for 2 more sleeep studies with the same results. I asked the doctors if the use of the patch might be a cause of the centrals and none of them thought it likely or were willing to take me off of the patch. After doing some research on my own I came to the realization that the patch could possibly be the cause of the centrals. I quit the patch, which was no easy task, and have had no signs of Central Sleep Apnea since.
I believe the use of the Fentanyl duragesic patch was the cause of my Apnea and am curious about the opinions of other Apnea sufferers.
Thanks
Dave

Very interesting, Dave. I'm sure you did a lot more research than I did with a Google search after reading your post. A quick look turned up these items. While they don't mention "central apneas", the references to shallow breathing, hypoventilation, and apnea would give one something to think about.

Did you have (or plan to have) a follow-up PSG to see if you truly are free of the central apneas now?

Following the link to "more information" led to this in a PDF file called "Healthcare Professional Information":

Health care professionals who prescribe the fentanyl transdermal patch and patients who use the fentanyl transdermal patch and their caregivers should be aware of the signs of fentanyl overdose. Signs of fentanyl overdose include trouble breathing or shallow breathing; tiredness, extreme sleepiness or sedation; inability to think, talk or walk normally; and feeling faint, dizzy or confused. If these signs occur, patients or their caregivers should get medical attention right away.